BLOCKS & Dashboard

The announcement of the Dashboard software for ROLI’s BLOCKS at NAMM has made these intriguing devices an even better prospect for DAW users, as Andy Jones discovers…

Andy Jones

ROLI

In this setup, two Lightpad BLOCKS sit beneath a single Loop and Live BLOCK

ROLI’s BLOCKS are a futuristic set of devices aimed at all levels of music producer – but specifically at anyone wanting to make music on the move, both quickly and somewhat unconventionally. They take the company’s multi-dimensional touch philosophy – as found on the rather amazing RISE keyboards – one step further by plonking it squarely (literally) onto a wireless modular setup that you can configure yourself. You heard that right – the concept is both ‘wireless’ and ‘modular’. As usual with Shoreditchbased ROLI, it’s so ‘on trend’ you can almost smell the street food and vinyl stalls. I even feel compelled to drink craft beer as I review it…